We can’t believe it! It all began in 2018 with two local people having a chat in Sainsbury’s Cafe about the lack of community and youth facilities in Cottonmill.
Three years later, after loads of meetings in front rooms, cafes and council offices… resident surveys, consultations, fundraising events, zoom chats and socials… the building work has begun at the Marlborough green space.
The building will be an eco-friendly Community and Cycling Centre, with St Alban’s flagship Cycling Hub and outdoor cycle activities - bang in the middle of Cottonmill - one of the most deprived areas in St Albans*.
More about the centre
- All-inclusive brand-new community and cycling centre
- Designed by the community for the community
- Environmentally sympathetic build with solar panels, heat pumps, green roof
- Large and small halls for hire
- Quiet Room – safe space for people to get away from the hubbub – dementia friendly, suitable for people with disabilities, and those with mental health stress
- Community café
- Community kitchen
- Well-designed new space for hire for keep-fit; yoga; dance; advice, lunch-clubs; meet-ups; art classes; film nights; foodshare, homework clubs; foodbank, cooking classes; youth clubs; socials; weddings and more
- Access and facilities (including specialist Changing Places toilet) for people with disabilities
- Cycling hub for bike repairs/workshops
- External Cyclo-cross track and BMX track – with space for all-ability bikes – so young and old, beginners and experienced cyclists – all abilities can develop and practice cycling skills; get fit, have fun, get healthy
- Changing rooms for indoor/outdoor sports activities including football
Who Are We?
The Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub campaign group, Verulam Cycling Club and Sopwell Community Trust have been working together on this project and have now formed the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre Fundraising Group.
What is this about?
St Albans City and District Council has secured major funding for Cottonmill’s amazing new inclusive community and cycling centre. With rooms for hire, a community café, and an environmentally sympathetic build, the centre will be accessible for all local people to use and enjoy. Facilities and activities will benefit the whole of St Albans and beyond!
The plan is to complete the new building at the former Marlborough Pavilion site, off Old Oak, Cottonmill Lane AL1, in 2022.
Building costs have recently increased, and the local community have been asked to help raise a total of £79k funds.
Together, the Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub Campaign, Verulam Cycling Club and Sopwell Community Trust are working to raise the funds through grants and through the generosity of local people with our Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre Fundraising project. We have until March 2022.
What will the money be spent on?
- £10,000 will go towards building the Changing Places toilet – to ensure that disabled people can access the centre and all its activities, with dignity
- £5,000 to kit out the community kitchen – we need good quality kitchen units, ovens, large fridge/freezer - to help create community events/cooking skills/support for food poverty
- £2,000 for the Quiet Room – to help build, furnish, and decorate the dementia friendly accessible space, for people of all ages/abilities needing space away from the crowds, for one-to-one conversations and for quiet reflection.
- £3,000 towards the external all-ability cycling track to inspire an increase in cycling for leisure and transport – for kids and adults
About Sopwell - one of the most deprived areas in St Albans
Sopwell ward is among one of the most disadvantaged areas in St Albans*. It’s home to 7,500 residents, many of whom live in the Cottonmill estate, which was built after the Second World War. Despite being in the affluent city of St Albans, Sopwell has two Super Output Areas (SOAs)/sub-ward areas (17A and 17B) that are in the 40% most deprived in England. Both of these SOAs are located in the Cottonmill Estate.
Many indicators in Sopwell are lower than the district average. It has one of the highest rates of people with no qualifications, unemployment, residents reporting their day-to-day activities are limited, self-reported bad and very bad health, and the lowest life expectancies.
In addition, Sopwell has a diverse population, with a large Bangladeshi community, yet it lacks inclusive community facilities. Unlike most other St. Albans estates, there is no dedicated community building, no social club, no library, no central pub, very few shops and a limited bus service.
Our new inclusive, accessible community centre will play a central role in delivering activities and services that will benefit our local community. It will reduce isolation - for young and old - bringing people together with a facility that can be used to support the physical and mental health and well-being of all our residents.
*LGA Basic facts about St Albans